Rondo

Rondo is a dark-skinned hybrid grape used for red and rosé wines in cool parts of northern Europe. It gives growers a practical option where more familiar red varieties may struggle to ripen reliably. England, Wales, Ireland and parts of continental northern Europe have all offered it a place in their developing wine industries.

Colour is one of its useful contributions, but a deeply coloured Rondo need not have the heavy body of a warm-climate red. The vineyard, blend and extraction determine the final impression. Producers also use it for rosé and sparkling wine, so the variety's name is only the beginning of a useful description of the bottle.

Follow the producer's intended style rather than treating hybrid as either a criticism or a quality guarantee. A dry still red is a candidate for an informal meal with grilled meat or vegetables; a sparkling rosé has a different job. For the first taste, choose a clearly described local bottle and notice how freshness and ripeness have been balanced.